Steam winch



March 29, 1949. H. KNUTSON 2,465,594

STEAM WINCH Filed Feb. 5, 1945 e sheets-sheet 1 I00 I00 72 I24 85 o II B m 8 1111:2115]: b O u. INVENTOR.

HARRY KNUTSON ATTORNEY H. KNUTSON March 29, 1949.

STEAM WINCH 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1945 INVENTOR.

HARRY KNUTSON ATTORNEY H. KNUTSON March 29, 1949.

STEAM WINCH 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 5, 1945 FIG. 5

INVENTOR.

HARRY KNUTSQN ATTORNEY March 29,- 1949. H. KNUTSON 2,465,594

STEAM WINCH Filed Feb. 5, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. |l

FIG. l4

MWIWII INVENTOR.

HARRY KNUTSON aHW ATTORNEY H. KNUTSON March 29 1949.

STEAM WINCH 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 5, 1945 INVENTOR. HARRY KNUTSON )5. H fl wz W ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1949 STEAM WINCH Harry Knutson, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to American Hoist & Derrick 00., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application February 5, 1945, Serial No. 576,200

3 Claims.

This invention has relation to material handling apparatus of the character including a winch. More explicitly, the invention relates to material handling apparatus, especially designed for use on cargo transporting vessels, of the type commonly known as steam winches.

An object of the invention is to provide material handling apparatus constituted as a steam winch wherein will be incorporated various novel features and characteristics of construction designed to render the material handling apparatus an improvement generally over material handling apparatus constituted as steam winches heretofore known.

A further object is to provide a material handling apparatus, consisting of a winch, steam engine mechanisms and a brake or brakes, etc., for actuating and regulating said winch, which will include new and improved features and characteristics of construction designed with pur poses in view of improving the structure of material handling apparatus of the present type and of rendering the material handling apparatus efiicient and satisfactory in operation for a long period of time.

A further object is to provide in the material handling apparatus various improved features and characteristics of construction which will be novel both as individual entities of said material handling apparatus and in combination with each other.

A further object is to provide material handling apparatus constituted as a steam winch which will incorporate a novel and improved lubricating construction and arrangement for steam engine mechanisms of the material handling apparatus or winch.

And a further object is to provide a material handling apparatus or steam winch of construction as hereinafter set forth.

With the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear as the specification proceeds, the invention comprises the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as now to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and intended in no way in a limiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts being permissible so long as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partially broken away,

of material handling apparatus including the features and characteristics of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, on a reduced scale, of the material handling apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the material handling apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the material handling apparatus disclosing the side thereof opposite th side disclosed in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view detailing a drum and a winch head of the material handling appara tus and parts of said material handling apparatus associated with said drum and winch head;

Fig. 6 is a plan view detailing a throttle assembly of the material handling apparatus;

Fig. '7 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in longitudinal section of the disclosure of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view detailing .a throttle body of the throttle assembly of Figs. 6 and '7;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 99 in Fig. 8;

'Fig. 1G is a detail sectional view, taken on line l0l0 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view detailing steam engine mechanism of the material handling ap paratus;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view detailing a crank shaft assembly of the material handling apparatus;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view, partially broken away, of a side housing of the material handling apparatus detailing a lubricating construction and arrangement of said material handling apparatus;

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of the disclosure of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is aside elevational view detailing a brake system and bearing supports of the material handling apparatus; and v Fig. 16 is an edge view of the brake system disclosedin Fig. 15.

The material handling apparatus here presented includes a winch 20, a so-called cargo winch as disclosed, steam engine mechanisms, denoted generally at 2|, 2|, a manual brake 22, and a lubricating construction and arrangement, representedat 23, for'each of said steam engine mechanisms. p

A winch bed construction 24 of the winch 20 is adapted to be suitably and conveniently supported, as, for eXamplaupon-the deck of a vessel. Side frame housings, denoted 25 and 26, re-

spectively, are supported directly upon opposite sides of the winch bed construction 24 in spaced parallel relation to each other, and the winch 20 is situated between said side frame housings 25 and 26 directly above the winch bed construction 24. More explicitly, the side frame housing 25 is composed of two adjacent, upper, rearward hollow sections, denoted 2? and 28, respectively, and a lower, forward hollow section 29, and the side frame housing 26 is composed of an upper, rearward hollow section 35 and a lower, forward hollow section 3 i. The lower, forward hollow sections 29 and 32 are constituted as integral parts of the winch bed construction 24. The upper, rearward portions of the inner and outer walls of the lower, forward hollow sections 29 and 3t termimate in the same oblique plane which extends downwardly and rearwardly. The upper hollow sections 21 and 28 are suitably and conveniently bolted, or otherwise secured, to the lower hollow section 29, and the upper hollow section 35 is suitably and conveniently bolted, or otherwise secured, to the lower hollow section 31.

As disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and of the drawings, the lower hollow sections 29 and 3! of the side frame housings and 25, respectively, suitably and conveniently include or provide spaced apart, oppositely disposed bearings, denoted 32 and 33, respectively, for a horizontal drum shaft 36 of the cargo winch disposed transversely of the material handling apparatus. A main drum of said cargo winch, situated between the side frame housings 25 and 26, is fixed, as at 36, upon the horizontal drum shaft 3d, and a winch head 3? of the cargo winch, situated at a side of the material handling app-aratus, also is fixed as at 33, upon said horizontal drum shaft 3d.

The winch head 3'! is adapted to be employed for several purposes, including the purpose of actuating a cable (not shown) for adjusting a boom (also not shown) to an elevation where it is desired to locate the boom better to perform a material conveying or moving job to be done. The main drum 35 also is adapted to be employed for several purposes, by actuation of a cable (not shown) ridable on said main drum and over sheaves (not shown) supported, for example, upon a mast (not shown), for raising and lowering, or otherwise moving, material.

As disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 15, said lower hollow sections 29 and 3! of said side frame housings 25 and '26, respectively, also suitably and conveniently include or provide spaced apart, oppositely disposed bearings, represented 39 and 46, respectively, for a horizontal crank shaft il of the cargo winch disposed parallelly of and considerably below the elevation of the horizontal drum shaft 3t.

Said horizontal drum shaft to fixedly supports, as at 42, a gear 43, the horizontal crank shaft ll fixedly supports, as at M, a pinion i5, and said pinion is in mesh with said gearllfS. The gear 43 is situated within the side frame sections 28 and 29, between the bearing 32 and the main constituted as an integral brake drum '36 of said maindrum 35, and the manual brake 22 is adapted to the purpose of causing said brake drum lfito within said side frame sections Bil and 3!.

be engaged thus to cause the main drum 35 and the head 3! to be brought to rest when this is intentional. Said manual brake 22 includes, in addition to the integral brake drum G6, a foot lever d'l secured, as at Q8, to a horizontal shaft 49 rotatably supported, as at 50, upon the winch bed construction 25, an adjustable brake band 5| in surrounding relation to the integralbrake drum it, and an operative connection between the horizontal shaft 49 and the adjustable brake band 5|.

Said adjustable brake band 5! also is situated Oneend portion .of the, a,djustable brake band 5i is anch red at 52,1130 the side frame section 3i, and mechanism 53 at an intermediate portion of said brake band is for the purpose of adjusting the 7 overall length of the brake band. A horizontal shaft 56, at right angle relation to the horizontal shaft 59, is rotatably supported, as at 55, upon the winch bed construction 2 5. A crank 56 fixed, as at 5?, upon the horizontal shaft 5 5 is pivoted, as at 58, to a link 59 itself pivoted, as at 50, to a short lever 51 fixed, as at 62, upon the horizontal shaft 59, and a crank 63 fixed to said horizontal shaft 54 is pivoted, as at 34, to an attachment piece 55 upon the end portion of the adjustable brake band 5| which is opposite the anchored end portion of said adjustable brake band. The construction and arrangement are such that the integral brake drum it will be engaged by the brake band 55 upon depression of the foot lever l? andthat said brake band will be removed from engagement with said integral brake drum, in response to actuation of a coil spring 65 secured to an arm 87 upon the horizontal shaft fit and to the winch bed construction 25, upon release of said foot lever 47. As shown, the foot lever t! extends along an end portion of the material handling apparatus, and an operating piece 68 for said foot lever is situated adjacent a corner of said apparatus. In some installations, it may be desirable to have the operating piece 68 situated adjacent a preferred corner of the apparatus. See the dotted line position of the operating piece in Fig. 1.

A rope guard and brace, represented generally at 69, of the material handling apparatus, between the side frame housings 25 and 25, maybe of any ordinary or preferred construction.

The material handling apparatus includes side housings, denoted iii and II, respectively, and a front housing, designated ii, for steam engine mechanisms of said apparatus. The side housings l5 and "H are rigidly supported, asat I23, by and up against the outer surfaces of the lower, forward sections 29 and 3| of the side frame housings 25 and 23, respectively, and the front housing '52 is rigidly supported by said side housings l0 and l I. That is to say, the opposite end'portions of the front housing F2 are secured to the forward end portions of the side housings it! and 'll, respectively. As disclosed, theside housings ill and H and the front housing F2 are in the same horizontal plane. and said front housing '12 is in spaced, parallel relation to the winch bed construction and in perpendicular relation to the side housings l0 and 11.

A throttle body of the front housin 7-2 is denoted'l3, a throttle body head is represented 14, a manifold is designated EEL and spaced pipes are denoted 75,415. Separate pipe sectionsl'l, "iiilead from a valve cage is of the throttle body-l3 to separate pipe sectionstd, 8! of the manifold 15. And, similarly, separate pipe sections (not shown) lead from said valve cage 19 to the spaeedpipes I6, 16. The manifold 15 is bolted, as at 82, or otherwise secured, up against one end of the throttle body I3, the spaced pipes l9, I5 are bolted, as at 83, or otherwise secured, up against the opposite end of said throttle body '53, and the ends of said spaced pipes 18, I6 opposite or spaced from the throttle body are integrally connected by a double pipe flange 85.

Each of the side housings I0, 'lI includes cylin ders 85 alined with the pipe sections 80, 8|, respectively; or the pipes I5, '16, respectively, as the case may be; and a steam chest 85 integral with said cylinders 85 and containing a piston 8"! and a valve 88 of the steam engine mechanism for actuating the horizontal drum shaft 34. The cylinders 85, 85 are bolted, as at I20, or otherwise secured, up against the outer ends of the separate pipe sections 88, ill and the double pipe flange 84 upon the spaced pipes 55, '15, respectively, and the steam chests 88, 85 are bolted, as at I25, or otherwise secured, up against the forward ends of casings 89 of the side housings 78, I I.

Each of the casings 89 contains parts of steam engine mechanism additional to the parts before mentioned, and a cover for each casing 89 is denoted 90. More explicitly, each casing 89 suitably and conveniently houses parts of a valve motion assembly additional to the valve 88, including a valve rod 9I, a valve rod guide 92, an eccentric rod 98 and an eccentric crank 80, as well as a piston rod 95 upon the corresponding piston 81, a cross head 96, a connecting rod 91, and a crank disc 98 having a crank pin 99. The crank discs 93, 98 in the different side housings I0, II, respectively, are fixed upon the opposite end portions of the horizontal crank shaft 4 I, and the eccentric crank 94- and the connecting rod 91 are, in the instance of the steam engine mechanism in each of said side housings 10, II, suitably and conveniently connected to the crank pin 99.

A steam inlet to the throttle body I3 is denoted I00, and an exhaust outlet from said throttle body is designated WI. The steam inlet I opens to passageways I02 leading to the valve cage 79, and passageways I03 lead from said valve cage to the exhaust outlet IOI. A tubular bushing I04 within the valve cage I9 includes central ports, one shown at I05, which afford communication between the passageways I02 and the interior of said tubular bushing I04, and a generally cylindrical throttle valve I06 is snugly slidably situated within the tubular bushing I04. The generally cylindrical throttle valve I includes steam receiving chambers, one of which is denoted I07, each provided by spaced members I08, I08 of the cylindrical throttle valve and alined with a central port I05. The tubular bushing I04 also includes end ports, represented I09 and I I0, respectively, adapted to afford communication between the interior of the valve cage and the pipe sections 11 and I8, as well as between said valve cage interior and the pipe sections (not shown) of the throttle body at the left in Fig. 7.

The specific construction and mode of operation of the steam engine mechanisms forms no part of the present invention. Sufiice it to say than when the throttle valve I06 is situated as in Fig. 7, the ports I05 are shut oif from all of the ports I09 and III] and the steam engines are inoperative; that the crank discs 98, 98 are adapted to be rotated in one direction when said throttle valve I08 is elevated to cause the ports I05 to be open by way of the chambers I01 to the ports I09 and the ports IIO to be open to the exhaust outlet; and that said crank discs are adapted to be rotated in opposite direction when the throttle valve is depressed to cause the ports I05 to be open by way of said chambers I01 to the ports I I0 and the ports I09 to be open to said exhaust outlet. The steam engine parts can be of any ordinary or preferred construction. Essentially, the steam engine mechanisms will inelude features and characteristics of the general nature as has been set forth. The valves 88, 88 and the parts associated with said valves and the pistons 81, 87 and the parts associated with said pistons are adapted to perform their functions in a manner well known in the present art. Stated simply, the side housings I0, II and the front housing I2 will contain steam engine mechanisms of ordinary or preferred type.

An operating lever IIi for actuating the generally cylindrical throttle valve I06 is pivotally supported, as at I I2, upon the throttle body head 14. A short arm of said operating lever III is pivotally connected through links II3 with a valve rod H4 secured to said throttle valve I06, and a long arm I I 5 of the operating lever is slidable along a quadrant II6 supported upon the manifold I5. A releasable latch for the long arm H5 of the operating lever I II is represented generally at IIT.

Each of the side housings 70, 1| incorporates a lubricating construction and arrangement situated within the casing 89 and its cover 90. Each casing with cover is adapted to receive lubricating oil, and contains an oil well H8 in its upper portion above the corresponding crank disc 98. The oil wells II8 are supported, as at H9, in any suitable and convenient manner, within the side housings I0, VI, and spout plates I20, I20 extend obliquely downwardly and outwardly from the opposite ends of sides of the corresponding oil well so that the free outer ends of the spout plates are engaged against a circumferential surface of the corresponding crank disc 98. The construction and arrangement are such that lubricating oil will be elevated to each oil well H8 in response to rotation of the corresponding crank disc in either direction. That is, each crank disc while rotating is adapted to lift lubricating oil out of the lower portion of the casing, and the spout plate toward which the crank disc rotates is adapted to cause oil to be removed by wiping from the crank disc and deposited by centrifugal force into the oil well. An oil outlet I2I from each oil well II8 is situated directly over the eccentric crank 94, etc., and an oil pipe I22 from each oil well is adapted to deposit oil from the well upon the connection between the corresponding valve rod 9| and eccentric rod 93, etc. Evidently, operative parts of the steam engine mechanisms above the oil level in the crank cases of the housings I0, II will become lubricated in response to rotation of the crank discs 98, 98 While immersed in the crank case lubricating oil.

The disclosure as made is of a so-called right hand winch. For a left hand winch, the steam inlet, the winch head and the control would be as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Ordinarily, elevation of the operating lever I I I, to cause the throttle valve I06 to be depressed, is adapted to cause the steam engine mechanisms to be actuated to rotate the crank discs 98, 98 in the load lifting direction of the main drum 85, and vice versa. That is to say, the construction and arrangement ordinarily will be such 7' thatvvhen it is the intention of an operator'to cause a load to be elevated, he will pull upwardly on the Operating lever I I l, and vice versa.

The main drum 35 evidently is adapted to be rotated, in either direction, through the instrumentality of the crank pins 99, 99 on the crank discs 98, 93, when simultaneously driven by the steam engine mechanisms, the crank shaft 4 I, the pinion 45, the gear 43 and the horizontal drum shaft 3 2 The steam engine mechanisms are employable, in a manner well known in the art, to retain a load at any selected elevation, and the manual brake 22 constitutes an additional or auxiliary instrumentality for arresting a load.

The side frame housings 25 and 23 are rigid with the winch bed construction 24, the side housings Iii and II are rigid with said side frame housings and said winch bed construction, and the front housing 12 is rigid with forward portions of said side housings. The material hari-' dling apparatus as a whole, including the steam engine mechanisms, is constituted as a very stable and substantial construction. Provision for ample lubrication of the steam engine parts is included, the material handling apparatus is designed to be capable of operating emciently and satisfactorily during long and continued heavy usage, and the construction is simple and compact. None of the operating or moving parts is exposed.

What is claimed is:

1. In material handling apparatus including a drum to be rotated, spaced apart members one of which is constituted as a side housing atright angular relation to said drum, a drum shaft rotatably mounted upon and between said spaced apart members rigidly supporting said drum, a gear upon said drum shaft and in said side housing, a shaft rotatably mounted upon and between said spaced apart members, a pinion upon said shaft and in said side housing in mesh with said gear, casings supported by and up against said spaced apart members at the outer sides of and in parallel relation to the spaced apart members, spaced apart rotatable elements fixed upon said shaft at the outer sides of said spaced apart member and situated in said casings, respectively, and steam engine mechanisms in said casings for driving said rotatable elements.

2. In material handling apparatus including a drum to be rotated, spaced apart first side hous- 5 ings at right angular relation to said drum,- a

8 drurn sha ft rotatably mounted upon and between said spaced apart first side housings rigidly supporting said drum, a gear upon said drum shaft and in one of said first side housings, a shaft rotatably mounted upon and between said first side housings, a pinion upon said shaft and in the first side housing having said gear in mesh with the gear, a brake drum integral with said drum and the first side housing other than the one having said gear, spaced apart second side housingssupported by and up against said spaced apart first side housings at the outer side of and in parallel relation thereto, spaced apart rotat able elements fixed upon said shaft at the outer sides of said first side housings and situated in said second side "housings, respectively, and steam engine mechanisms in said second side housings for driving said rotatable elements.

I 3. In material handling apparatus including a drum to be rotated, spaced apart members one of which is constituted as a side housing, a drum shaft rotatably mounted upon and between said spaced apart members rigidly supporting said drum, a gear upon said drum shaft and in said side housing, a shaft rotatably mounted upon and between said spaced apart members, a pinion upon said shaft and in said side housing in mesh with said gear, side casings supported by said spaced apart members at their outer sides, spaced apart rotatable elements fixed upon said shaft and situated in said casings, respectively, and steam engine mechanisms in said casings for driving said rotatable elements.

HARRY KNUTSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 688,484 Parsons Dec. 10, 1901 1,906,947 Cunningham May 2, 1933 1,920,363 Dean Aug. 1, 1933 2,352,395 Ljungkull June 27, 1944 2,379,858 Banzhaf et a1 1- July 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 188,968 Great Britain Nov. 23, 1922; 620,026 Germany Oct. 11, 1935 

